In recent years, an important change has been introduced regarding the breed's official name. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) approved the official reversal of the breed's name, changing it from Maremma and Abruzzes Sheepdog to Abruzzese Maremma Sheepdog. This decision acknowledges the breed's deep historical connection with the Abruzzo region, where it has been selected and preserved for centuries.

This modification concerns only the official name. It does not involve any changes to the breed standard, physical characteristics, temperament, or working abilities that have always distinguished this remarkable livestock guardian dog.

For many enthusiasts, the traditional term Maremma Sheepdog will naturally remain the most familiar name, especially outside Italy, where it has long been established. However, in official documents, dog shows, and pedigrees, the correct designation is now Abruzzese Maremma Sheepdog, recognizing the fundamental role that Abruzzo has played in the development and preservation of this ancient Italian breed.

The Former Official Name

Until recently, the official designation was Maremma and Abruzzes Sheepdog, a name intended to reflect the historical connection with both regions.

In everyday language, however, the breed has almost always been shortened simply to Maremma Sheepdog, largely because this was the name that became internationally known during the twentieth century.

The 1958 Breed Standard

A decisive moment in the breed's history came in 1958, when renowned Italian cynologist Professor Giuseppe Solaro drafted the official breed standard.

After conducting extensive morphometric studies on hundreds of dogs gathered from livestock shows and shepherds across different Italian regions, Solaro demonstrated that the differences between the so-called "Maremma" and "Abruzzese" dogs represented regional variations rather than distinct breeds.

Since then, they have been officially recognized as one single breed, while still maintaining some natural morphological diversity resulting from centuries of selection in different pastoral environments.

Ancient Origins

The white livestock guardian dog has extremely ancient Mediterranean origins.

Around 4,000 years ago

The ancestors of today's Abruzzese Maremma Sheepdog likely arrived in Italy with Indo-European populations (the Aryans), who introduced advanced pastoral traditions. These nomadic shepherds practiced seasonal transhumance and relied on powerful, courageous dogs to defend their flocks from predators such as wolves and bears.

Roman Times

Historical sources describe the canis pastoralis, a white guardian dog clearly distinguished from hunting dogs and mastiff-type guard dogs. It was already considered indispensable for sheep farming.

Middle Ages and Renaissance

Between the 14th and 16th centuries, Italy was divided into numerous independent states.

One of the most significant institutions was the Royal Customs of the Sheep Tracks of Foggia (Regia Dogana della Mena delle Pecore), established in 1447 by the Kingdom of Naples. It regulated seasonal sheep migration (transhumance) and taxed flocks travelling along the great tratturi—wide grassy routes that could reach 100 meters in width.

This represented a true pastoral industry, with flocks sometimes numbering over 40,000 sheep.

Alternative Routes

Besides the official migration routes toward Apulia, many shepherds also moved their flocks westward toward Tuscany (the Maremma) and north toward the Marche region.

These alternative routes were often less expensive but more uncertain due to local taxes and health risks, including malaria in the coastal Maremma plains.

This dual transhumance system explains why the white livestock guardian dog became established in both Abruzzo and the Maremma, although the breeding objectives evolved differently in each region.

Abruzzo: The True Heart of the Breed

In Abruzzo, sheep farming was not simply one economic activity—it was the foundation of the local economy and mountain communities.

For this reason, Abruzzese shepherds developed an exceptionally strict breeding program.

They favored the largest and strongest males, often selecting breeding dogs through real tests of strength and dominance between dogs belonging to different flocks.

White coats were consistently preferred, both for practical reasons—allowing shepherds to distinguish their dogs from wolves during nighttime attacks—and for symbolic reasons, as white represented purity in contrast to the dark color traditionally associated with predators.

This centuries-long selection produced the large, powerful, majestic yet balanced guardian dog we recognize today.

Maremma and Tuscany: Secondary Development

In Tuscany and the Maremma, the white guardian dog arrived together with transhumant flocks.

Here, however, breeding practices were generally less rigorous.

Dogs were occasionally crossed with local breeds.

Large white dogs also became popular among Tuscan nobles and landowners, who valued them as prestigious estate guardians.

As a result, some local bloodlines developed a lighter, more wolf-like appearance, especially where the demanding pastoral environment of Abruzzo was absent.

Tuscany nevertheless played a crucial role in spreading the breed's international reputation.

Toward the end of the nineteenth century, an English traveler exported one of these white guardian dogs after seeing it in the Maremma and entered it in a London dog show under the name Maremma Sheepdog.

From that moment onward, the English name became internationally established.

The Debate Over the Name

During the 1950s, two separate breed clubs existed:

• Abruzzese Shepherd Dog Club, founded in Abruzzo in 1950 by Professor Pischedda;
• Maremma Sheepdog Club, founded in Brescia in 1953.

The unified breed standard published in 1958 officially ended the division between the two groups.

Nevertheless, the debate over the breed's name has continued for decades.

Various institutions in Abruzzo repeatedly proposed official names such as Abruzzese Shepherd Dog or Abruzzese Mastiff, emphasizing the breed's historical origins.

Until recently, however, the official FCI name remained Maremma and Abruzzes Sheepdog.

Although "Maremma Sheepdog" remains the most common name in everyday language and internationally, Italian breed clubs continue to promote the complete official designation.

Breed Characteristics

The Abruzzese Maremma Sheepdog is a rustic livestock guardian dog specifically developed for pastoral work.

Coat: always white, sometimes with slight ivory shading or very pale markings, which are tolerated but not preferred.

Size:

• Males: 65–73 cm (25.5–28.7 in), 35–45 kg (77–99 lbs)
• Females: 60–68 cm (23.6–26.8 in), 30–40 kg (66–88 lbs)

Structure: marked sexual dimorphism, with males being noticeably larger and more powerful.

Temperament: confident, independent, balanced, deeply attached to its flock and highly territorial.

Purpose: protecting livestock from wolves, bears, and feral dogs with remarkable effectiveness while remaining naturally reserved rather than unnecessarily aggressive toward people.

Current Distribution

Once concentrated mainly in central and southern Italy, the breed has experienced significant expansion in recent decades.

The return of wolves to the Alps and northern Apennines has encouraged many livestock farmers to once again rely on these guardian dogs.

Today, the breed is also widely used throughout Europe—including Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands—and has spread to several other continents thanks to its reputation as a reliable, highly effective livestock guardian.

Approximately 1,300 registered puppies are born each year in Italy, with a significant proportion now bred in northern regions.

Conclusion

The Abruzzese Maremma Sheepdog is one of Italy's oldest and most valuable livestock guardian breeds.

Its genetic and historical roots lie firmly in Abruzzo, where generations of shepherds shaped the imposing, white guardian dog known today through centuries of careful selection.

The Maremma region of Tuscany and Lazio played a key role in spreading both the breed and its international reputation.

Today, the Abruzzese Maremma Sheepdog is recognized as one of the world's finest livestock guardian dogs: rustic, courageous, balanced, and perfectly capable of meeting the demands of modern livestock farming while preserving an extraordinary pastoral heritage that stretches back thousands of years.